Gate-operating device.



N 0L7 68,61 2. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

J. .N. LYLE.

GATE OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 27, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

. Patented August so, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NEWTON LYLE, OF WACO, TEXAS.

GATE-OPERATlNG-DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,612, dated August 30, 1904.

' I Application filed October 27,1903. Serial No. 178,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN NEWTON LYLE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Waco, in the county of McLe'nnan and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Gate-Operating Device, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to gates, and especially to a gate-operating mechanism whereby the gate may be readily opened or closed at a point remote therefrom bya person seated in a vehicle, and has for its objects to produce an inexpensive comparatively simple device of this character which may be readily applied to the ordinary forms of gates now'in use.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel details of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gate embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail top .plan views of the operating-lever and adjacent parts, showing the gate closed and open, re-

spectively. Fig. 1 is a detail side elevation.v

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a gateconsisting of a front bar'2, a rear bar 3, and horizontal connecting bars or rails 1. These parts may be of the usual or any preferred construction and material, except that the rear bar 3 extends vertically upward a suitable distance above the top rail of the gate and has extending from its upper end to the front lower corner of the gate a diago nal brace 1'.

5 is a vertical hinge-post to which the rear bar 3 is pivoted for the gate to swing, as usual, in a horizontal plane for opening and closing, 6 a latch-post disposed at the front of the gate for engagement by the latch 7 when the gate is closed, and 8 8 are vertical uprights or standards situated at opposite sides of the gate suitably remote therefrom and connected to the hinge-post 5 by a horizontal bracebar 9. These parts may, except as hereinafter specified, all be of the ordinary construction and material.

Bolted or otherwise attached to the gatebar 3 on a line with the top of hinge-post 5 is a pair of spaced straps 10, which receive and have secured between them a rearwardly-extending gate-operating member or lever 11,- which rides horizontally over the top of post 5. This lever has its forward end between the straps provided with a'U or V shaped slot or recess 12, which receives and pivots upon the vertical portion of an L-shaped hinge member or pin 13, the horizontal portion of which extends through the post 5 and has a nut tapped onto its end. Thus the gate is pivotally connected with the upper end of post 5, while it is pivoted to the lower end thereof by an ordinary strap-hinge 14:, having an eye engaging over the vertical portion of a hinge member or pin 15, similar to the member 13, above described. It is here to be particularly noted that the lower hinge-connection will maintain the gate somewhat nearer to post 5 than will the upper connection, because of the slot 12 in the latter, thus permitting. the gate to sag sufficiently when closed to maintain the latch 7 in engagement with the keeper 16.

- Pivoted adjacent to the upper end of each of the standards 8 'is a bell-crank lever 17,

having a long horizontal arm 18, to the outer end of which is pivoted a depending pull bar or member 19 and a comparatively short vertical arm 20, between which and the horizontal arm a bar 21 extends, said lever being provided with a forward weighted extension 22, designed to counterbalance the long arm of the lever and act through parts 20 2 1 11 to maintain the gate in open position.

Bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to lever 11 is a transversely-disposed cross piece or member 23, which projects at right angles to the lever upon opposite sides thereof. Pivoted to saidcross-piece adjacent to its opposite ends are the inner ends of a pair of connecting bars or elements 24, the outer ends of which are pivoted one to each of the leverarms 20 near the upper ends of the latter, whereby downward pull upon one of the bars 19 will serve, through the lever 17 and said connection, to actuate operating-lever 11 for opening or closing the gate, as the case may I be, it being apparent from the relative lengths of the lever-arms 18 and 20 that a comparatively small amount of traction or weight applied upon the outer end of the former will be sufliciently multiplied through the latter to properly efiect the operation of the gate. It is here to be noted that when the parts are so operated the forward end of the gate will first be lifted for releasing latch 7 from its keeper and the upper end of bar 8 drawn inward to the post5 until its upper end is brought in rear of the vertical pivotal center of the lower hinge connection, when the gate will automatically swing by gravity, aided by the weighted extension 22, to an open position. from Which it is positively moved to a closed position by power exerted by lever 17 through linkv2et upon cross-piece 23.

25 designates a vane attached to the upper end of bars 3 and 4 and extending in rear of the gate in parallel alinement with the longitudinal axis of the latter. This vane serves to balance the gate and when acted upon by the wind neutralizes its force upon the gate and assists the opening and closing of the latter.

26 is a tie-band secured around the upper end of post 5 for its upper edge to project slightly above the end surface of the post. This band has its upper edge notched or recessed, as at 27, to form a seat for operating lever 11 when the gate is closed in order to lock the latter against movement, the band being further recessed, as at 28, to receive the lever and maintainthe gate in its open position. Thus the gate will upon the com pletion of either of its movements he automatically locked.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l produce a device of comparatively simple construction which is admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view; but it istobe understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details herein sctforth, inasmuch as minor changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The combination with a hinge-post, of a gate pivotally connected therewith, an o1L)eratinglever projecting rearward from the gate. pivoted actuating-levers each having an inner weighted extension and a vertical arm, and links connecting the vertical portions of the actuating-levers with the operating-lever.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 havehereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN NEWTON LYLE.

Vitnesses:

Geo. RnAMnn, L. D. Dnwnr. 

